European midscale hotel brand B&B Hotels is set to make its U.S. debut with the opening of its first hotel in Orlando on the site of the former Floridian Express International Drive hotel.
The inaugural U.S. hotel will have 218 rooms near Universal Studios in Orlando. This venture will occur through a collaboration with real estate partner Batipart. The existing structure is slated for a renovation.
Valerio Duchini, U.S. CEO of B&B Hotels, said the company was looking to expand in Miami and Jacksonville, Fla. Fabrice Collet, president and CEO of B&B Hotels, added that the company is looking to reach 3,000 hotels in the next decade. B&B Hotels’ portfolio spans 17 countries across two continents and includes more than 770 hotels. In 2023, the brand achieved a revenue of $1.3 billion and added 170 new hotels. The brand's business model uses an asset-light approach for swift expansion.